Lauter machine



March 7, 1939. v R. c. SCHOCK LAUTER MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. .fc/or/r March 7,1939. R c, SCHOICK 4 2,150,069

LAUTER MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig/2 INVENTOR.

The object of this invention is to provide a Patented Mar. 7, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- LAUTER MACHINE Robert C. Schock, NewRochelle, N. Y., assignor to Schock, Gusmer & 00., Inc., Hoboken, N. J.,a corporation of New Jersey Application December 13, 1937, Serial No.179,535

11 Claims.

, novel lauter machine, in which substantially all parts of a mass ofgrains are subjected to a gentle momentary separation on the least .dis-

turbance of the same, to enable the wort to be.

run oif, the grains in the mass being also displaced from the bottom tothe top in the container.'

Furthermore, the invention has for its object to provide means whereby,after the wort has been finally drawn off the spent grains, the samemeans'may be used to discharge the spent grains from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide the means for adjustingthe lauter mechanism to a mixing device, prior to using it to lauter.

The object of the invention is to provide a knife for the lauter machinewhich has a sharp impinging edge, followed by a streamline body tourwidening out to a rear end, the separators extending outwardly from thebody of the knives to act as inclined planes to force the grainsthereover, the body of the knife and separators agitating the mass ofthe grain as little as possible, both knife and separators acting toloosen the grain while .raising it, so as to enable the wort to separatefrom the grain, and thereby obtain the maximum extraction of the wort. Aplurality of such knives with the separators arranged adjacent to eachother with the separators of the adjacent knives arrang ed staggered andwith one set of knives with separators traversing paths untraversed byanother set'of knives with separators, brings about a loosening of the'entire mass of grain.

Finally, .the knives with their angular separators can be used toperform other work than 1 the container after all the possible amountof.

' mass under increased speed provisions.

wort has been extracted. Also, by placing the knives at an angle to thevertical, the knives and inclined separators can be used to first mixthe grains, before subjecting them to a lauterlng 5 action. I

The invention has also for its object to provide a method of lauteringwhich consists" essentially in subjecting a mass of grains throughoutthe mass to momentary separation so as to loown. them throughout themass, at the same time,

raising the lower part of the mass to the upper part thereof, at theparts of the mass acted upon by the separators.

The invention consists of a. new lauter knife having a flat streamlinebody with a sharp-front edge, and spaced separators or planes thereover,

- each inclined from front to rear, pointedly sharp at the front andwidening in streamline fashion to the rear, the separators extendingfrom the .body of the knives table-fashion, and lentil shaped invertical section, having lateral sharp edges.

The invention consists further of a lauter machine having a container, acentral post thereon adapted to be rotated, a longitudinal horizontalarm extending from the post, and a pin rality or the aforesaid knivessuperposed substantially vertically downward therefrom.

The invention consists further in staggering. the separators to eachother in said machine.

The invention oonsits further in providing one or more armsextendingfrom the chamber post in opposite direction,and having apluralityof such knives extending therefrom.

The invention consists further innot staggering the knives of the secondarn'1,but 011-. setting the knives on the other am so that the knives ofthis second arm from the central post traverse the mass of grains insucha manner as .to have the knives pass through that part 01' the mass nottraversed by the first set ot knives on the first arm.

'The invention consists further in means for moving the knife sidesagainst the direction oi! movement of the knives and against the mass,was to move the mass radially outwards o! the container. V

The invention consists iurther in providingv means for placing theknives at an 'angle to the vertical, the lowermostQends of the knivesbeing at the rear of the upperends, so as to mix the Finally, theinvention consists of a methbd which consists in subjecting amass ofgrains to the action of separation under least disturbance 55 alone V inthe mass, such separating actiontaking place throughout, the entiremass, circumferentially, both vertically and horizontally, whereby suchloosening enables the wort to be extracted.

In other words, the cutting of the furrows inthe filterbed by thestreamline devices, as-an example, is done in such a manner so as not todisturb the filterbed. so that cloudy liquid will not flow from thetank, to buoy up the filterbed, so 'as to allow as complete extractionas is possible'of the soluble masses of the filterbed, and to do thisfiltration in as short a time as is, possible.

The invention consists of the foregoing and also of other features,which will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with em--bodiments' of the invention, which embodiments will also be shown in thedrawings, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical central section ofa mash filtering machine constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention, all of the knives being arranged in lautering position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the righthandportion of Figure 1,

widening out of the grains due to the passage Figure 9 isa transversesection taken on .line' 3-9 of Figure 5.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe various views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral Iii designates generally a tub ortank having a cylindrical side wall U and a relatively fiat bottom walll2. Outlets I3 are secured to the bottom wall l2 so that the spentgrains may be'removedfrom the tub l0 when desired. A top or cover Itengages the upper portion of the tub. The tub. i0 is stationary and maybe supported on a suitable base or other supporting means (not shown).The wort syrup or juice filters through the false bottom 62, and in thebottom there are a series of eight to twenty one inch diameter or largeropenings connecting to a central collecting tank through which the wortflows. The cover It is'provided with two hinged manholes at to eachother (not shown) to allow 'adiustment of lautering knives. The tub isfilled through a circular opening '(not shown) in the top Itapproximately eight inches in .diameter. Y

' A' shaft I6 extends vertically and axially of the tub I. andconstitutes the driving shaft for the mixing and cutting deviceshereinafter described. The drive shaft II extends downwardly-through.abearing 'or bushing and has a worm gear (not shown} secured to thelower end thereof. A motor or power member i3 is coupledto a worm shaftl9 by means of an overrunning clutch 23 of conventional construction,and the worm secured to the shaft l9 meshes with the worm gear in thecasing ll so as to efl'ect rotation of the drive shaft Ii. A

A second power member 22 is also coupled by means of an overrunningclutch 23 to the shaft l9, and this second power member 22 is preferablyof higher power than the first power member i6 for mixing purposes andfor removal of grains. The second power member 22 is operated, with thefirst power member I3 cut 01!.

Motor 22 is the larger size motor and is used for mixing apparatus, andalso for the removal of the grains which is accomplished by adjustingthe lauter knives 36 to the position about 45 from that shown in Fig. 1.Motor 22 is an adjustable speed motor having a shaft driving speed rangeof usually from 6 to 12 R. P. M., while motor I8 is either variable orconstant speed motor and is designed to operate the cross arms at onerevolution in three minutes. V

The arm 25 has a plurality of vertically disposed cutting members 36mounted therein which are connected together by a linkage a, and thesecutting members 36 are adjusted by means of a worm gear 36 secured to ashaft 36. A worm '46 meshes with the gear '36 and is rotated by a handwheel 4|. Links ll a are moved .by the shaft 39 in order to rotate theknives on their axes. Gears lib inte mesh.

Each blade 36 has a ve ically disposed scalloped or fluted cuttingportion 42 and a plurality of plows or separators 43 which are disposed,

on an inclination to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 5, so that asthese blade members 36 are swung around in the tub iii the mash will belifted by the plows or separators 43. The blade members 36 have asharpened front edge 36, as seen in Fig. 8, and a siinilar rear edge,the horizontal cross section being lentil-shaped in streamline fashionso that while these blades cut through the mass of the grains, theydisturb the grains as little as possible. The plow's or separators 43have a very sharp point 3i at their forward ends, and form inclinedtable portions 32 around the blades. These table portions 32 extend veryslightly beyond the vertically arranged blades, and the table portions32 merge into sharp edges 33. The blades 36 having the curved portions42 and 42a at the front and rear, thus enable the plows or separators43, due to their protruding positions in respect to the blades 36, toact as little ships of streamline contour to enter the grains and toseparate them in a manner involving the least amount of disturbance tothe mass. The relation of the thickness of Y the web portion 360. andthe width of ,the table portion 33:: is shown in Figure 8.

This is a very important point inasmuch as it tends to buoy up themashduring the revolving of the lautering knives and keeps it from packing,thus allowing for more complete extraction and leeching. Plows 33 arealso staggered in respect to each other in that the. plows in the adofthe-other rod. In'Fig'. 1, a second radial rod- 26a is provided withknives 36 suspended therefrom, which, however, are so arranged as topass through the untraversedpaths .of the knives of rod 26.

As seen in Figure 5, the table portions of the superposed plows 43 havedifferent inclinations to the horizontal, the lowest plow having thegreatest inclination, the next one less, and so on. The mass has thegreatest pressure at the bottom of the tub, and this pressure is leastat the top level of the mass. Hence, the various inclinations of theplows are adapted to the variations in the pressures of the mass. Thefront edges of the plows are on a line inclined upwardly and rearwardlyfrom a horizontal line.

In order to provide a means whereby the arms and 2511 with the knives,may be lifted out of the mash when desired, I have provided a plunger 4!which is vertically slidable, but not rotatable in the bushing orcylinder l6.

The lower end of the cylinder I6 is provided with a heador cap 41 havinga pressure line 46 connected thereto, and a gland 49 seals the cap 41about the shaft I5. t

The tub-l0 may also be provided with an inner or false bottom 52 whichis preferably slotted or perforated, and which is supported in anysuitable manner in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom l2.

In the use and operation of this filtering device, the desired mash andliquid is placed in the tub I! and themotor 22 then operated to turn theshaft 15. Rotation of the shaft l5 will swing the arms 25 and 25a.

The arm 25 will swing about the post l5, and the cutting members 36carried by the arm 26 will keep the mash'at an evendensity throughoutthe depth thereof. Adjustment of the cutting and stirring members 36 maybe made by means of the hand wheel 41 so that these members 36 mayloosen up the mash to the desired I I degree.

The mash mixing and cutting means may be raised out of the mash while inmotion by means of the plunger 44', it being only necessary to dischargethe liquid under pressure in the lower portion of the cylinder l6through the pipe 46.

After the cutting means have been working for a period of time and themash becomes converted, the motor is stopped, pressure is appliedthrough pipe 48 and arms 25 and 25a elevated out of the mash. After asuiflcient resting period motor I8 is placed in operation at arelatively slow speed and by means of a valve on pipe arms 25 and 25aare gradually lowered into the mash cutting furrows in the mash to allowproper leeching to take place and at the same time hasten the rate offiltration. When the motor 22 is set in operation, the motor I8 is cutoff.. The overrun ning clutches 20 and 23 will readily permit theoperation of either of these motors either singly or togethefTAfter themash has been converted, it is then proper to draw off the wort, and thelautering arms are adjusted in such a position that a furrow is cut intothe filtering bed as the lautering knives are gradually lowered into themash. This allows the sparge water to penetrate into the'furrows andextract or leech the W0 from the grains.

A spray pipe 60 is arranged above knives and ain be used for mixing. Nothickening of the mash occurs during the mixing operation, merelyaconversion of the starch into sugars. The slower speed is used for thelautering in order to obtain proper leeching and extracting.

I In Fig. 4 is shown a diagram of the passage of the lentil-like tableportions through the grains.

The gaps 10, H and I2 correspond to the table portions of the knives onone rod; the gaps .14 and 15 corresponding to the other knives. Circlespassing through the gaps III, II, 12, I4 and 15 indicate thecircumferential paths of the knives. The gaps are formed, but graduallydissolve, so to say, in the connecting lines. It will be noted that thegaps 10, H and 12 are formed by one set of knives and the interveninggaps 1 4 and 15 by another set of knives on the other radial rod 25a,acting staggered, so to say.

Thus, one entire mass of grains, vertically and horizontally, issubjected to sharp knife edges with very narrow width of web. Thereby, anew method of lautering grains has been provided.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the table portions are considerablyinclined to the vertical whereby such table portions act as mixingblades. As seen in Fig. 1, the lower ends of the knives 36 aresubstantially in one plane. I

The tub, afterit has been supplied with the desired amount of grain, hasthe rod 25, and rod 25a in case two rods are used, suspended entirelyabove the top of the grain surface. After the grain has been allowed toreact a while, the rods with their knives are allowed to descend underhydraulic action very slowly, soas to permit the knives with theirbottom foremost to enter the grain bed. This entering is very slow so asto prevent a clouding of the -liquid. when the knives have reached.their lowermost position, then they are moved circumferentially. 'It ishere important that the knives even above their uppermost plows orseparators are of little thickness and are sharpened so as to easilyenter the grain bed. Contrary to devices heretofore proposed which pushthe grain awayand cause hollow spaces which set up turbulences and causecloudiness, the sharpened edges and relatively very narrow widths of theknives quietly cut into the bed. Also of importance is that with deviceswhich were provided with front edges substantially parallel with theaxesof such devices, a pushing up of the bed from the'bottom upwardswould also cause turbulences and cloudy disturbances, whereas in thisinvention. the front of the knives being inclined to the axis of theknife, upwardly and rearwardly, with the sharp peaks ly. Not alone doesthe knife as an entirety thus act as a plow, but the separators, each ata different inclination, also act as plows. r

In Fig. 2 the knives are shown with their broadsides, and in a positionsubstantially at right angles to the position shown in, Figure 1. Thisdrawing is for the purpose of clarification. To discharge the spentgrain from the tub, the

knives, however, 'are rotated or shifted only 45 from the position shownin Fig. l.

The knife 36 upto the collar lie, as shown in Fig. 2, is sharpened bothat the front andrear; thus it is sharp from its bottom to its top,

throughout its length, as seen in Fig. 2. These knives have a collar lieand an extending cylindrical rod lid, extending beyond the knifeportion. 4

The use of mash treating means hereinbefore sharp front edge point, andtapering sides mergdescribed eliminates the use of a number, of tubs foreach separate treatment of the mash and provides an exceedingly compactstructure which is easy to operate and which may be readily cleaned.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modiiications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims: 1

What I claim is:

1. A mash treating machine comprising a tub, a central, post in saidtub, an arm extending from said post, radially outward to the wall ofthe tub, a plurality of knives on said arm and depending downwardlytherefrom into the mash of the tub, said knives having a horizontalcrosssection forming a front knife edge, widening, and a rear edge, andhaving a vertical section forming a plurality of front concave curves,plows spacedapart on said knives at the juncture lines of said curves,and inclined to the longitudinal axes of said knives rearwardlyupwardly, each plow having in plan a sharp front entrance point,

and widening to form table portions laterally of the knife, and having aclosed rear portion, and

each plow having in vertical view a sharp front edge point, and taperingsides merging to a knife edge, the front edge of each plow being on aline inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the horizontal.

2. A mash treating machine comprising a tub,

a central postin said tub, an arm extending from said post radiallyoutward to the wall of the tub, a second arm extending in a differentdirection to the post, 'a plurality of knives on said arm and dependingdownwardly therefrom into the mash of the tub, said knives having ahorizontal cross section forming a front knife edge, widening, andasharp rear edge and having a vertical section forming a plurality offront concave curves, plows spaced apart on said knives at the juncturelines of said curves, and inclined to the longitudinal axes of saidknives rearwardly upwardly, each plow having in, plan a sharp frontentrance point, and widening to form' table portions laterally of theknife, and having a closed rear portion, and each plow having invertical view a.

ing to a knife edge, the front edge of each plow being on aline inclinedupwardly and rearwardly from the horizontal, the lowermost plow havingthe greatest inclination, and each succeeding upper plow having lessinclination, the knives of each arm being displaced in respect tothearms, whereby the path of one plurality of arms is a different one thanthe path of the other plu- 3 In a mash treating machine, the combinationoi atub, a plurality of knives having spaced plows at an inclination tothe knives, each plow having a different inclinatiom'a support for saidknives,

extending from the center of the machine radially.

outwardly, and means for rotating the knives upon their axes, wherebythe'knives are adapted to be used for lautering and upon the rotation ofthe same for cleaning the tub, the lowermost plow having the. greatestinclination, and each successive plow decreasing inclination.

4.. In amash 1 machine, the'combination of a tub, a plurality of u veshaving spaced plows at an inclination to the knives, a support for saidknives, extending from the center of the and the plows having differentinclinations to the axes of the knives.

5. 'In a mash treating machine, the combination of a tub, a plurality ofknives having spaced plows at an inclination to the knives, a supportfor said knives, extending from the center of the machine radiallyoutwardly, means for rotating the knives upon their axes, and means forplacing the knives at an angle to the vertical, whereby the knives areadapted to be used for lautering and uponthe rotation of the same forcleaning the tub, and the ves when angularly placed are adapted to thecontents of the tub, the front of said plowsbeing on a line inclinedrearwardly and upwardly, and the plows having different inclinations tothe axes of the knives. I

6. In a mash treating machine, a knife, having a vertical shank having asharp edge at its front and rear and a narrow curved stream line betweenthe edges, spaced plows on said shank forming tables of small depth, thetable portions merging to sharpened edges extending around the shank,said plows widening from their front V-shaped entrance point, tosubstantially rounded 7. In a mash treating machine, a knife having avertical fiat blade with curved'front and rear V edges forming knifeedges, and plows secured transversely to the blades at an angle otherthan 90, said plows extending rearwardly and upwardly, said plows havinga reverse streamline contour with sharp edges,the' lowermost plow havingthe greatest inclination, and each successive plow decreasing ininclination.

8. In a mash treating machine, aknife having a vertical flat blade withcurved front and ,-rear edges, and plows secured transversely to theblades at an angle other than 90, said plows extending rearwardly andupwardly, the angles of 'the plows being different for each plow, thelowermost plow having the greatest inclination, and each successiveplowdecreasing in inclination. 1

9. In a mash treating machine, a knife having a vertical flatbiade withcurved front and inclination, and each successive plow decreasing,

in inclination. 10. In a mash treating machine, a knife havinga verticalflat blade with curved front and blade and'the front of each plow beingon a line inclined rearwardly and'up, and therear of each plow being ona vertical line.

11. A mash treating machine comprising a tub, a plurality of cutting andloosening knives in the tub, said knives being substantially of equallength and having flat blades and plows secured transversely of theblades at an angle inclined rearwardly and upwardly, the plows ofadjacent knives being ofl'set lengthwise of the blades with respect toadjacent knives, means for holding said knives in position above thebottom of the tub for swinging movement about the tub, said meansextending radially of the tub,'the knives of one side of the tub beingdis- 7 posed offset to the knives of the other side of the tub, each ofsaid plows having a different inclination, and the front and rear edgesof the 5

